Golf

US PGA: Jimmy Walker holds one-shot lead after third round

American cards 68 at Baltusrol to top defending champion Jason Day

Jimmy Walker on the seventh hole during the third round of the US PGA Championships at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Jimmy Walker on the seventh hole during the third round of the US PGA Championships at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Sun Jul 31 2016 - 17:30

American Jimmy Walker claimed a one-shot lead as the third round of the weather-affected US PGA Championship was finally completed on Sunday.

Walker, who was one of 10 players unable to start their rounds on Saturday due to bad weather, carded a 68 at Baltusrol to finish 11 under par, a shot ahead of defending champion Jason Day.

British Open champion Henrik Stenson, who is seeking a second Major title in the space of three weeks following his victory at Royal Troon, was a shot further back alongside American Brooks Koepka after carding a third consecutive 67.

“I was struggling with my long game but the putter was behaving better so I’m happy to come in with that score,” Stenson said.

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“I think this 67 was better than the previous two so I just hope I can pick up some timing with my long game.”

Walker was two over par for his round after 10 holes, but birdied four of the remaining eight to remain on track for a wire-to-wire victory which would complete a clean sweep of 2016 Majors by first-time winners after Danny Willett, Dustin Johnson and Stenson.

“I made a couple of tentative swings early but just said, ‘Trust it man, you’re swinging good and keep the pedal down’,” the 37-year-old said. “It’s going to be an awesome afternoon.”

Day, who is looking to become only the second player after Tiger Woods to successfully defend the US PGA since it became a strokeplay event in 1958, said: "We just didn't really know what was going on with the weather, but thankfully it let up and I'm glad we got the third round in.

“Patience was key and I played some good golf so looking forward to the fourth round.”

The last five groups did not make it out onto the course on Saturday before an approaching thunderstorm forced play to be suspended at 2:15pm local time (7:15pm BST).

Persistent heavy rain then left parts of the course flooded before play was finally abandoned for the day shortly before 6pm local time.

Play in the third round resumed at 7am and the fourth got under way at 8:40am, meaning the likes of Kevin Kisner and Pádraig Harrington – who shot 65 on Saturday – had the chance to set a testing target well before the leaders teed off.

Harrington, who successfully defended his British Open title in 2008 and won the US PGA a month later, birdied the third and picked up another shot on the fifth after hitting the pin with his approach to move to six under par.